Resorts remain top pick for 71.4 percent of travelers

The Maldives continues to cement its reputation as a premier luxury travel destination, with recent data revealing that 71.4 percent of visitors opt for stays at the nation’s upscale resorts. This trend underscores the enduring appeal of the island nation’s exclusive accommodations and pristine surroundings among global travelers.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics published on Thursday.

As such, the ministry’s statistics show that 681,168 visitors have opted for the luxury of resorts so far. This makes up 71.4 percent of the total arrivals. 221,282 tourists make up 23.2 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 27,873 tourists make up 2.9 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 23,349 tourists make up 2.4 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 660 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

Further, between May 1 – 28, 123,591 tourists were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA). This is a 12 percent increase from the 110,332 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024 and higher than the 110,349 arrivals recorded the previous year.

The ministry’s statistics go on to reveal that between January 1 and May 28, 954,335 tourists arrived in the Maldives. This is an 8.1 percent surge in comparison to the 882,702 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 798,634 arrivals recorded in 2023.

On a monthly basis:

• 214,863 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 31.
• 214,091 tourist arrivals were recorded between February 1 – 28.
• 203,464 tourist arrivals were recorded between March 1 – 31.
• 198,322 tourist arrivals were recorded between April 1 – 30.

The statistics go on to reveal that about 6,931 tourists arrived on average every day during January, 7,646 in February, 6,563 in March and 6,611 tourists arrived on average during April. 4,414 tourists are arriving on average every day during May.

Looking at the daily arrivals for May 2025:

• 7,349 tourists were welcomed on May 1
• 7,263 tourists were welcomed on May 2
• 6,179 tourists were welcomed on May 3
• 5,467 tourists were welcomed on May 4
• 4,740 tourists were welcomed on May 5
• 4,720 tourists were welcomed on May 6
• 4,517 tourists were welcomed on May 7
• 4,134 tourists were welcomed on May 8
• 4,877 tourists were welcomed on May 9
• 4,812 tourists were welcomed on May 10
• 4,342 tourists were welcomed on May 11
• 4,431 tourists were welcomed on May 12
• 3,869 tourists were welcomed on May 13
• 3,766 tourists were welcomed on May 14
• 3,391 tourists were welcomed on May 15
• 3,941 tourists were welcomed on May 16
• 3,567 tourists were welcomed on May 17
• 3,744 tourists were welcomed on May 18
• 3,768 tourists were welcomed on May 19
• 3,769 tourists were welcomed on May 20
• 3,508 tourists were welcomed on May 21
• 3,456 tourists were welcomed on May 22
• 3,962 tourists were welcomed on May 23
• 4,172 tourists were welcomed on May 24
• 3,939 tourists were welcomed on May 25
• 4,173 tourists were welcomed on May 26
• 3,612 tourists were welcomed on May 27
• 4,123 tourists were welcomed on May 28

Statistics go on to reveal that China has remained the leader in tourist arrivals to the Maldives with no signs of slowing down, dominating the top source markets by the end of the fifth month of the year.

As such, the ministry’s statistics revealed that although Russia topped the tourist source markets into the third week of January, it was replaced by China into the last week of January.

China has topped the leading source of tourists since then. China contributes 11.9 percent of the market share with 113,392 arrivals.

China sat at the top of the list of tourist source markets by the end of 2024 as well.

Russia sits at second place on the list contributing 10.8 percent of the market share with 103,358 arrivals recorded by Friday.

The United Kingdom comes third contributing 10.3 percent of the market share with 97,892 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

• Italy contributing 8.5 percent with 81,280 arrivals
• Germany contributing 7.7 percent with 73,068 arrivals
• India contributing 5.7 percent with 54,257 arrivals
• France contributing 3.6 percent with 33,958 arrivals
• United States contributing 3.2 percent with 30,086 arrivals
• Switzerland contributing 2.3 percent with 21,818 arrivals
• Austria contributing 1.8 percent with 17,362 arrivals

Although Poland was included among the top ten tourist source markets for the year, Austria replaced the country in the past few days.

Maldives welcomed 2,046,615 visitors in 2024. In 2023, 1,878,543 tourist arrivals were recorded.

A true jewel of the Indian Ocean, Maldives has been dazzling among passionate travelers since tourism was introduced in the island nation in 1972. It is going to be 53 years since the island paradise has been enchanting travelers from around the globe with its unrivaled hospitality and picturesque beauty.